A Bit of Meditation

The screeching of the tired old bus engine is replaced by silence of the mountains as we jump off somewhere between Pai and Mai Hong Son. We are directed towards our home for the next days by a path lined with yellow Buddhist flags. Entering the perfectly kept grounds we watch as the people dressed in white pyjama-like clothes embark on the endless task of sweeping the forest's discarded leaves into piles. We meet Luanta, the top monk, and with a smile that appears to have grown into a constant reminder of his happy personality we are welcomed into the arms of the monastery and the comfort of some baggy white pyjamas of our own.

Waking up as early as the sun we are part of a ceremonial offering of food to the monks. Only being permitted to take what is given and not being allowed to handle money goes some way to explain the humbleness of these people. The idea of religious leaders leading by example is indeed refreshing. Having dined ourselves with plenty of rice, vegetables and fruit (with the added luxury of hot chocolate) we are strengthened to join the morning walking-meditation. Silently putting one leg ahead of the other whilst trying to clear the thoughts lets me encounter an hard enemy: the own mind. Having difficulties to calm down for more than 3 seconds I have a hard time imagining how monks are capable of meditating in silence for 7 years 7 months and 7 days. An unbelievable task made only more unbelievable when facing a tiger who is checking out his potential snack as Luanta tells along his many stories. Happily he shares his repertoire of adventures with us .. after all he is human and since finishing his silence years he talks like a waterfall. Ava herself makes an own encounter with the wild life during forest walking meditation - having a snake nearly falling on her head from a tree- hopefully not some kind of omen!

Not enough that I had to survive on only vegan food, I wasn't allowed to eat even that after 12 noon (although I admit cautiousness obligated us to be prepared with a bag of crisps and some emergency peanuts)! But huge portions of food for breakfast and sessions of group-meditation lets you quickly fall into a routine without thinking much about food at all. Indeed worries faint if you are surrounded by an environment that doesn’t care much about money or anything else treated so holy in our world. And so we manage to grasp a tiny impression of what reality looks from a different light – a view that is based upon actual reality ... rather than the interpretation of our chaotic minds. An unimaginable long but rewarding track must lie ahead for the young monks and I deeply find respect for the elder monks as it gets clear why they are honoured so much throughout the people. Its a way of living that requires the individual to work on themselves and to actually understand what you observe. A giving up of desires and extremes along this neutral path. The effect on the whole society must be enormous, with most of the Thai experiencing a monastery in their lifespan, including 20 Thai-woman during our stay. A way not only chosen by locals but also attractive to Westerner of whom some stay for months and maybe years.